Effectiveness of Drug Court

What is the effectiveness of Drug Court?
In 1997, the Government Accounting Office reported that 71% of all offenders entering Drug Court have either successfully completed their Drug Court program or are at the present time actively participating in the program. The retention rate is very important to the program. Individuals that need help can only receive help if they are in the program and stay with the program. The 2000 Annual Report of the National Drug Control Strategy reports that approximately 175,000 drug-using offenders have participated in Drug Court programs since their inception in 1989, with 122,000 graduating or remaining active participants. It is important that the individual participants recognize the effectiveness of the program. If they see the improvement they are making for themselves, there is a better likelihood that they will complete the program.

Results of urine testing of participants in four county probation programs compared to Drug Court Treatment by the Office of National Drug Control Policy:

This chart compares intensive and general court ordered supervision with Drug Court treatment programs. The Drug Court treatment program had the lowest drug-use rate and had the majority of negative drug tests. The chart also shows that as traditional court-ordered supervision is decreased from intensive to general there is an increase of drug use and a corresponding decrease in negative drug test results.